Quick News: Frankenstein, Shazam, Sandel, Way

The Frankenstein Chronicles
Netflix has picked up the U.S. and several other countries rights to Sean Bean’s cult ITV Encore hit event series “The Frankenstein Chronicles” with all six episodes to debut next year.

Set in 1830s London, Bean plays a war veteran and river policeman investigating the case of a corpse made up of body parts from different children, and finding the matter involves senior establishment figures and demonic forces. [Source: Variety]

Shazam
Youngsters Ian Chen (“Fresh Off The Boat”) and Jovan Armand (“Bella and the Bulldogs”) have joined the cast of the David F. Sandberg-directed DC superhero film “Shazam” at New Line.

Chen will play Eugene and Armand will play Pedro, friends of leading character Billy Batson (Asher Angel) whom they met at a group home – unaware Billy can transform into an adult superhero (Zachary Levi). “IT” actor Jack Dylan Grazer recently joined the film. [Source: Deadline]

Goosebumps 2
Ari Sandel (“The Duff,” “West Bank Story”) has been set to direct the “Goosebumps” film sequel at Sony Pictures, but the studio reportedly still hasn’t decided which of two versions in development he will film. Both are direct adaptations of different installments of R.L. Stine’s book series with one adapted by Rob Lieber. Neal H. Moritz is producing. [Source: Deadline]

Long Way Down
Universal Pictures has optioned the rights to best-selling novel “Long Way Down” with Michael De Luca and John Legend producing. The story takes place in 60 seconds, as a young man struggles to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the guy who killed his brother. The book is also told in free verse and is set in an elevator. [Source: Variety]